PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguelito Dragon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silva
vs
Dragon

180 cm
22
204 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

173 cm
29
200 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « AJFC↑ DOUBLE 160Q ®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Miguelito Dragon!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Dragon.
Dragon swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Silva counters with an inside leg kick.
Silva scores with a leg kick.
Dragon takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Donk. Dragon catches Silva right on the button with a cross.
Dragon lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dragon.
Dragon throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with a leg kick.
Silva connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dragon misses with a head kick.
Dragon throws a left and a right that both miss

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Silva.
Dragon avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Dragon working aggressively here.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dragon throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Dragon avoids the damage to the body.
Dragon lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragon lands with a left to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dragon avoids it.
Silva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dragon.
Dragon lands a shoulder strike.
Silva lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dragon backwards.
Dragon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Miguelito Dragon has been cut.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dragon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Dragon blocks with his arms.
Dragon misses with a punch to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Silva - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dragon misses with a body punch.
Dragon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva leaning his opponent against the cage.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Dragon trying to stall but Silva improves his position.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dragon blocks it with crossed arms.
Dragon scores with a shoulder strike.

Dragon pulls guard successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silva controls from within his opponent's guard.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Dragon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Dragon!

Silva working for a triangle but Dragon defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragon wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Dragon forces his way into half guard.

Dragon is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Dragon is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dragon prevents Silva from improving his position.

Dragon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Dragon eventually gives up the hold.
Dragon throws a strike but Silva avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Dragon trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

Dragon drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Silva dives on top into guard.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Dragon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Dragon pushes his legs off easily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Dragon drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!
Dragon defending against the ground and pound.

Silva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dragon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silva throwing strikes but Dragon manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Dragon wants to take a breather but Silva manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Dragon.
Dragon wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Dragon has gone for a leg lock! Silva slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dragon's guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Silva is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Silva working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Dragon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva wants to control from the top but Dragon keeps moving.
Silva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva is standing up over Dragon. Dragon looks to escape but Silva dives into side control.
Dragon parries the strikes from Silva easily there. Silva is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dragon to escape.
An elbow from Silva crashes against the mat.
Dragon manages to work his way to half guard, despite Silva's best efforts.
Silva is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Silva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dragon wants to get back to his feet.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Dragon pushes Silva off and gets back to his feet.
Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dragon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick from Dragon misses.
Dragon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Dragon missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva misses with a low kick as Dragon jumps back.
Silva throws a front kick aimed at Dragon's knee but Dragon avoids it well.
Silva buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dragon lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Miguelito Dragon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A slapping leg kick lands for Silva.
Dragon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Silva. Silva obviously looking to wear him down.

Dragon moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Miguelito Dragon's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dragon gets a takedown into half guard.

Dragon seems to be looking for submissions.
Dragon is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dragon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dragon is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
Silva is looking for a sweep. Dragon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Dragon is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dragon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragon trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.
Silva trying to hold on to Dragon's head to control him but Dragon postures up.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dragon.

Dragon seems to be looking for submissions.

Dragon is looking for a kimura here.
Dragon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragon is just content to waste time from the top position. Silva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Dragon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva misses with a head shot. Dragon uses the momentum to regain guard.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dragon wants to sweep but no luck.
Silva trying to control but Dragon is working from the bottom.
Silva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva won't allow Dragon to sweep him here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Dragon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dragon misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Dragon punching from mount but Silva doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Dragon goes for an armbar but Silva turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Silva.

Dragon has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Dragon is breathing heavily.
Silva postures up in Dragon's guard and throws a big left but Dragon blocks it.
Dragon lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!

Dragon swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Silva is now in Dragon's guard. A big mistake from Dragon there, giving up the dominant position!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva works over Dragon with some ground and pound from guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.

Dragon has his foot on Silva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silva works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Dragon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva throws an elbow that misses. Dragon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silva's guard. Nice move by Dragon!
Dragon looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dragon wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Silva manages to pass to side control.
Dragon trying to control but Silva postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Silva lands a nice short elbow.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Silva.

Dragon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dragon keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Silva looks to land a strike but Dragon avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dragon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wanderlei Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dragon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Dragon's legs - danger averted.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dragon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva trying to control but Dragon is working from the bottom.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Dragon keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dragon lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
Poor strikes thrown by Dragon there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miguelito Dragon.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Wanderlei Silva!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Wanderlei Silva!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Wanderlei Silva!

Wanderlei Silva wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Wanderlei Silva thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.